51³Ō¹ĻĶų

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Making an Impact

Newman Fellow lauded for her advocacy work 

Summa ³§±ō²¹³Ł±š°łā€™s drive to make a difference began in elementary school when she joined the Girl Scouts. Since then, she hasnā€™t looked back.

ā€œBeing involved in hands-on service at a young age deepened my understanding of direct serviceā€™s importance,ā€ she said.

The senior continued her passion for advocacy at 51³Ō¹ĻĶų, where she worked as an alternative break team leader through the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) and mentored local high schoolers.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Summa received the 2024 BSUā€™s Unsung Hero Award, presented earlier this year at the annual Impact Award celebration. The award is given to someone who goes above and beyond in the development of leadership and service opportunities.

Upon returning from a service-learning trip to Cuba this past May, Summa received more good news, when she was chosen to be a 2024-25 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow.

The news was humbling.

ā€œTo be named a Newman Civic Fellow and to have this light shone upon meā€¦means Iā€™m capable of creating change across campus, not just in our community, but beyondā€ she said. ā€œIā€™m honored to have this platform to continue the work Iā€™ve been doing.ā€

The year-long program emphasizes personal, professional and civic growth. The goal is to learn how to collaborate effectively across all disciplines to create large-scale positive changes. Through the fellowship, students within the cohort will have the opportunity to network and develop as civic leaders.

BSU President Frederick W. Clark Jr is thrilled to learn Summa had been selected.

ā€œAs a student leader, she actively builds community and facilitates learning for her peers and local youth,ā€ Clark said. ā€œAs a changemaker, she aims to mobilize and influence her peers to think critically, share their stories with people in positions of power, and get actively involved in voting."

Summa hopes to develop a skill set that will teach her how to better organize people for causes she believes in, chief among them is getting students to the polls in this Novemberā€™s presidential election.

ā€œItā€™s so important to encourage others to vote, I hope to educate my peers on how to vote,ā€ she said.

Beyond that, Summa plans to work and meet with students from various organizations at BSU to ensure all voices are heard.

ā€œI want to create opportunities for my peers across campus so they can be advocates for themselves,ā€ she said.

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